u/BrightWay7253

Just imagine Samantha and Darlene combining forces. The amount of money I would pay to see this is genuinely concerning. Like, financially irresponsible. GIVE THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT!!!

I’ve been visiting Montréal this weekend and just had the most incredible meal at Hélicoptère.

The attention to detail, flavors, and simplicity were absolutely perfect.

I did not go for their $85 tasting menu (which sounds like a pretty good deal for the price), as I was more interested in the flavors on their a la carte menu. Here’s what I ate:

• Shallot tart w/chicken liver mousse
• Duck tartare w/sumac flatbread
• Trout w/soppressata ragu.

I highly recommend this place for anyone visiting Montréal in the future.

I’m in Montreal for the first time this weekend, and one my first stops was Schwartz’s for a smoked meat sandwich to-go.

It was good. REALLY good.

It makes me want to try another spot (or 2) this weekend that has good smoked meat.

Locals, please drop your recommendations in the comments.

First stop on my trip to Montreal was St-Viateur for a sesame bagel fresh out of the oven, and dare I say it was one of if not THE best bagels I’ve ever eaten.

Boiling it in honey gave it this beautiful nuttiness that I’ve never tasted in a bagel before, and now I fear I’ll never look at another sesame bagel the same way.

This place is so worth the hype.

Came to Toronto this weekend for a concert and snagged a chef’s counter reservation at Quetzal.

I of course went for the curated tasting menu ($158) and it truly was a top culinary experience. Here’s everything I ate:

———

• Oyster amuse

• Dry aged hiramasa aguachile: rhubarb, jicama, shiro shoyu

• Steak tartare with a brown butter sabayon (My favorite course)

• Welsh Bros. asparagus: hazelut mole blanco, fermented anaheim, ramps, sea asparagus

• Empanada Oaxaqueña: lamb barbacoa, salsa molcajete, valentine radish, salsa de ajo

• Newfoundland scallops: green garlic butter, popcorn, tajín

• Sablefish (My least favorite course)

• Mushroom and shishito: Shogun maitake & Trinity Farms oyster mushroom, shishito, crema poblana

• Coconut nicuatole: masa & coconut cream, pineapple, hibiscus meringue, mezcal, mint

———

Overall, it was an experience I’ll never forget. I don’t love that I smell like a campfire, but it was a price I was willing to pay for this meal.

Yebba has been my favorite artist for years now and it was the first time I’ve had the chance to experience her music live. I had a VIP ticket and was at the front (maybe 10 feet from her), so I can only speak from my perspective because I see a lot of discourse about her lighting choices from other vantage points at the venue.

1.) I did not expect her to be so shy with the audience. You can tell she is really in her zone when she’s focused on creating sound and vibing with her band.

2.) I loved her vocal manipulations, though I definitely think there were times where her volume could have been raised and the background vocals/band volume could have been lowered.

3.) The lighting didn’t really bother me. I got the vibe that she didn’t want the spotlight on her, so I completely understand that artistic choice (even though some audience members had a different perspective).

4.) Some of the more magical moments were the bass solo into Seven Years, Yebba’s Heartbreak, Of Course into Aggressive, and the Evergreen encore.

5.) Astyn Turr is a STAR! Yebba could not have picked a more perfect opener. I cannot wait to see her stardom blossom.

Overall, it was a transcendent musical experience that I will never forget. Yebba is a true artist and you got a good sense of the way her mind works.

I’ll leave y’all with a bit of Delicate Roots (I didn’t record much because I wanted to stay present in the moment).

Went to Yebba’s show in Toronto tonight and was absolutely blown away by her opener/backup singer Astyn Turr. What an incredible vocalist. I hope being featured on this tour gets her a lot more recognition.

Truly the best 🤤🍕